Washington, DC asked in Employment Law and Employment Discrimination for Virginia

Q: I was wondering in the state of Virginia is there anything that you can do or Sue your employer if it is a Hostile Work

I am currently employed for a private company in the healthcare field it is a relatively small company however the owner of the company is not only a bad manager however I do believe some of the things that she does and says is questionable crossing the HR boundaries. For example she consistently curses at her employees she screams at them in. She sends work related text messages and phone calls all hours of the night. I am a salaried employee.I feel when I go to work every day that it is a hostile work environment and I do not know how she’s going to act each day I am there. I get nervous going into work every day because I do not know how she’s going to act towards the staff and myself and I don’t know what actions I could possibly take.

1 Lawyer Answer
Peter Whelan
Peter Whelan
Answered
  • Employment Law Lawyer
  • Washington, DC
  • Licensed in Virginia

A: If you work for a private employer in Virginia with fewer than 15 employees, then you are not protected by federal anti-discrimination statutes that might otherwise give you a remedy for a "hostile work environment."

However, it sounds like what you are experiencing is not a "hostile work environment" in the legal sense of the term, because it sounds like the harassment is not related to your sex, race, religion, or other similar protected status.

It sounds like you just work for an incredibly difficult and unpleasant manager, so without more, there is no grounds to sue your employer.

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